A psychopathic Evangelist, a hermit, a little girl, and a barren woman are total strangers to one another until a set of uncontrollable circumstances place them on a collision course. It begins when the FBI raid the New Hope Compound, run by Reverend Davidson. The FBI believes that the reverend funds his organization by illegally selling stolen computer chips to foreign governments. The current raid, led by Agent MacGruder, turns into another Waco. However, Davidson manages to escape from the carnage he causes. An inadvertent witness, Spenser, manages to haul one of the children out of the mess and hide her with a friend from both Davidson's minion and the Feds, who both want the child. Eventually, the little girl ends up with Carole. The few children rescued from the calamity are being systematically killed in what appears to be a series of unfortunate accidents. Spenser and MacGruder know that Davidson is behind these atrocities as he searches for the missing child Spenser rescued. As MacGruder closes in on Davidson, Spenser and Carole try to protect the child from everyone, even as they wonder what is important about this innocent child. Elizabeth Forrest may not yet have the name recognition of Clive Barker or Stephen King, but her talent clearly rivals both of them. BRIGHT SHADOW is a frightening yet thrilling work that demonstrates what can happen when too much power is concentrated in a few organizations that ultimately abuse their power as their leaders lose their scruples. Ms. Forrest's examination of human group dynamics working in a corrupt environment is brilliant and ought to bring the awesome author a forest of new fans.

Spring 1992 "Agents, report." McGruder eyed the industrial complex, just north of San Jose outside Silicon Valley, a tilt-up complex, newly built, barely one fifth occupied. He shrugged uncomfortably inside his flak jacket hidden under a dark blue tie-on vest proclaiming FBI in large white letters front and back. He hadn't worn a tie-on vest like this since playing basketball in high school years ago. It gave an eerie sense of gamesmanship to something he knew could become deadly serious. The flak jacket was his, the vest had been handed out along with Thomas Brothers map pages of the area from the field ops HQ. He could feel sweat trickling down his rib cage. The walkie-talkie in his hand remained silent, giving out just enough of a crackle of static to show it functioned. He put his mouth to it, felt his lips curl with tension. "Damn it, report. Carl, Haley, what's going on?" The steel-blue edges of dawn were peeling back, the sulfur-colored lights of the industrial park fading in brilliance. The place looked deserted except for an occasional car on the periphery of the lot. One of them was an FBI surveillance car, empty, its occupants gone. He checked the poor photocopy of the map page. This was the place; he'd stake his life on it. He'd come on duty early, to make sure the subjects were coming in to work, as normal, to relieve the surveillance team, to prepare the area for the sweep. His nerves told him nothing yet was normal. "Damn the wait. We're going in." The field agent at his elbow flinched. "But, sir--" "I have two agents on watch. Our sweep isn't timed until eight A. M. I'm not waiting two-and-a-half hours to find out why my men aren't responding. I want you to put a call in, requesting immediate backup." "Yes, sir." Moreno, pale under his natural skin color, immediately got on the radio to the field HQ and made the request McGruder told him to, as McGruder got out of the car and stood. His knees complained a little and he balanced his weight first on one foot and then the other, stretching his legs. As Moreno joined him, McGruder pulled his automatic and signaled for the young agent, just out of Quantico, to follow suit. "It's just computer chips, for crissakes," Moreno muttered. He thumbed open his holster reluctantly. "Computer chips are the new international currency. They're like gold, Moreno. They're not ID'd and companies around here will often pay hundreds of thousands to buy their own chips back, no questions asked. The overseas market is even less circumspect. Hijacking a computer company is like finding a Brinks truck wide open, with nobody home." McGruder approached the front of the building on a diagonal. The front door, the window, showed a darkened, empty lobby. He crooked a finger and took Moreno down the side with him, toward the massive warehouse doors at the back. The judas doors, smaller doors cut into the freight portals,hung slightly ajar. Intuition prickled down the back of McGruder's neck, and something icy stirred in his gut. He curled his other hand around the gun to steady it, readying it for firing. "I'll lead, you follow." He did not wait for Moreno to grunt in soft agreement. He kicked out, and the judas door thundered open."FBI! Lay down your weapons!"

 

A psychopathic Evangelist, a hermit, a little girl, and a barren woman are total strangers to one another until a set of uncontrollable circumstances place them on a collision course. It begins when the FBI raid the New Hope Compound, run by Reverend Davidson. The FBI believes that the reverend funds his organization by illegally selling stolen computer chips to foreign governments. .......

34 Chapters

A psychopathic Evangelist, a hermit, a little girl, and a barren woman are total strangers to one another until a set of uncontrollable circumstances place them on a collision course. It begins when the FBI raid the New Hope Compound, run by Reverend Davidson. The FBI believes that the reverend funds his organization by illegally selling stolen computer chips to foreign governments. ....... The current raid, led by Agent MacGruder, turns into another Waco. However, Davidson manages to escape from the carnage he causes. An inadvertent witness, Spenser, manages to haul one of the children out of the mess and hide her with a friend from both Davidson's minion and the Feds, who both want the child. Eventually, the little girl ends up with Carole. ....... The few children rescued from the calamity are being systematically killed in what appears to be a series of unfortunate accidents. Spenser and MacGruder know that Davidson is behind these atrocities as he searches for the missing child Spenser rescued. As MacGruder closes in on Davidson, Spenser and Carole try to protect the child from everyone, even as they wonder what is important about this innocent child. ....... Elizabeth Forrest may not yet have the name recognition of Clive Barker or Stephen King, but her talent clearly rivals both of them. BRIGHT SHADOW is a frightening yet thrilling work that demonstrates what can happen when too much power is concentrated in a few organizations that ultimately abuse their power as their leaders lose their scruples. Ms. Forrest's examination of human group dynamics working in a corrupt environment is brilliant and ought to bring the awesome author a forest of new fans. ......

 

Elizabeth Forrest is the pen name for the side of me that writes suspense thrillers, often with a dark fantasy or horror twist. I've been writing for a number of years in several genres and for all ages, but Elizabeth is one of my absolute favorite personas. It is often said you should write what you like to read, and some of my mystery/thriller favorites include Alistair McLean, Dean Koontz, Stephen King and Dick Francis. Married with the usual assortment of children and pets, writing is my full-time occupation, with a liberal dash of travel as a hobby. I'm always looking for an intriguing complication to use in a future novel. I draw liberally on Southern California and its unique culture and mythos for backgrounds in my novels, and you might recognize a spot or two as you read. Thanks for your interest and attention, and many thanks to the editors and publishers who keep me going!

 

BRIGHT SHADOW by ELIZABETH FORREST
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